The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-04-02

lishment was an eccentric, middle
aged man, with a tongue ever wag-
ging over the small gossip of the
neighborhood, which he benevolent
ly dispensed to the'group of idlers
who seldom failed to give him more
or less of an audience. This fact be-
ng recognized some unknown partyi
had dubbed the shop "Gadford's
Harbor" a name it had held and
honored for many years.
1t was cold, frosty morning in
November. Mr.. Gadford had begun
work. For a wonder, he was alone.
A circumstance so unusual appar-
emily had its effect, for he dropped
his hammer and went to the door.
~ wonder what's the matter with
Jerry this morning?" he muttered,
as he filled his pipe and squinted up
and down the long street. First
day he's been off since he started in.
Somethin's up or down with him,
sartin, ! never seen a boy so bent ON
gittin at trade in my life, but he's
tryin' to move with it leetle fast
for a beginner. Some says conceity
folks is the kind what wins. won
der if they do? ! never thought
nothin' of myself-nothin' at all ;
and look at me now! | don't think
there's Il horse in the state | can't
shoe to the notch, nor any work in
iron l amt up to. Solid worth is
what takes the lead, but stuckuptive-
ness, never | guess I'll have to
drop this prentice of mine peg or
two. All hope is they won't be no
broken bonesw and he turned to his
forge with chuckle.
Considerably out of breath, Jerry
Altman bounded into the shop, tossed
off his coat, and was into his leath-
ern apron in iiffy.
Couldn't help. it, Mr.. Gadford
Mothers sick. My aunt is there
now, sir, and | guess I'll be on time
after this as he took shovelful OF
Goals from his masters forge to light
his own.
No excuse needed in a case like
this, replied the blacksmith, slowly
"No fault to find with you on that
score, Jerry"
"Any fault to find anywhere, sir ?"
queried his apprentice, the roar from
the bellows almost drowning his
voice.
"Not gene'lly, not 'tickerly, boy
but still | might say, in II fatherly
kind of way, that you're gittin'
just a little too smart fer cub!'
"Too smart for cub'-what do
mean, sir ?' cried our hero with a
flushed face.
"What do mean ?" replied his
master, with a loud laugh-"why |,
mean jist what I've said, of course.
What have been doing these thirty
years. Tendn to my trade, haven't
l.? When | worked as prentice |
acted like one. You don't, you see
Who ever heerd of a feller in your
place studyin' grammar, and bor-
rowin' books to read after night +?
When you go home. do like | did
keep your mind on your bis'ness.
Don't think of nothin' but that.
don't want no scholard here fer IL
cub, nor no one that stands off from
the crowd and won't be drawed into
no talk unless its related of to some
eddicated thing or mother You're
soarin' too much, young man.
don't like it Nobody else does. Now
git to work and quit"
Jerry stood for one moment irres-
dilute His face was hot with pass
ion, and a savage reioiner was on
his tongue but he thought of his
mother. In spite of his narrowness,
his master was kind, and an excel
lent workman. So he turned on his
heel and whistled. Mr.. Gadford
glared at him savagely out of the
corner of his eye, and had it ON his
lips to order the music stopped, but
thought better of it, and pounded
his thumb with the hammer in
stead.
Blaketon could boast of but one
dry-goods store, but that was an un-
usually large and extensive enc for so
small a place. Mr.. Silas Upton, the
proprietor, had done thriving bus
iness that pleasant April day and he
watched the sun declining behind
the hills with no particular regret.
But trade was not done yet, appar-
emily, for no less person than our
friend Jerry Altman entered and adj
vanccd toward the counter
And what can | do for YOU, my
friend ~ inquired the merchant,
rubbing his hands and smiling
blandly
But very little, sir hardly